Who Sinned?

That’s not a question asked by the blind man. It wasn’t a rhetorical question asked by Jesus. It came from Christ’s disciples:

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? (John 9:1-2 KJV)

Today many people believe deeply that when bad things happen, it is the result of sin. Diagnosed with cancer? Has to be because of sin. Have a child die? Surely the parents sinned.

Do not believe that.

While it is true that some of the things we do bring bad things into our lives (smoking can cause cancer, high-risk activities can maim or kill) do not quickly judge all bad things as God’s punishment. Read further and understand Jesus’ response to His disciples:

Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. (John 9:3 KJV)

No man was ever promised an easy life on this earth. Through the sin introduced in Eden, we are told how we will live:

Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. (Genesis 3:18-19 KJV)

There are many things that happen to us, and to loved ones, that we will not understand in this life. Just as the blind man’s parents found out as they were interrogated:

But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. (John 9:18-21 KJV)

We will have to speak for ourselves. We cannot speak for our parents, our children or any of our loved ones. The blind man told those who asked:

Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. (John 9:32-33 KJV)

Yet, when Christ asked:

Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. (John 9:35-37 KJV)

Even with his sight restored, knowing that his healer had to be from God or He could do nothing, the healed man did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah until those words.  His next recorded words are ones that mean so much to me – and I have publicly repeated:

And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. (John 9:38 KJV)

Who sinned? We all have. God forgives. Good, bad or indifferent things that happen in this world apply here. God is in control and He loves me.